Former SS guard too sick to appear in court

BERLIN (AP) — A court session in the trial of a 93-year-old former Auschwitz death camp guard has been called off because he is sick.

Presiding Judge Franz Kompisch said former SS Sgt. Oskar Groening was too sick to get out of bed and come to the Lueneburg state court Thursday morning, news agency dpa reported. The judge said there was no evidence Groening was faking his illness.

Wednesday's trial session was ended early because Groening appeared exhausted. He will now be examined by doctors to determine whether the trial can resume as planned Tuesday.

Groening is being tried on 300,000 counts of accessory to murder and faces a possible sentence of three years to 15 years if convicted. Prosecutors argue his role sorting prisoners' stolen valuables, which he admits, helped Auschwitz function.